Heywire winner Blake Hunter from Kalgoorlie, WA, shares his story.
Listen to an audio recording of this story here.
I was only young, but I remember how nervous I was when my family and I moved from Melbourne to Kalgoorlie.
There were no trams like I was used to, but plenty of red dirt and new faces.
Attending a new school in a new town, I didn’t talk to anyone — I just couldn’t!
People would try to talk to me but I would shutdown and stutter with fear.
I was afraid of being judged — for my looks, my personality and my voice.
I didn’t want to be this way, but something happened to me when I was 10 that helped change that.
I was sitting in the back seat of mum’s car on a summer’s day, holding an icecream, when a song suddenly came onto the radio.
It was Eminem’s Love the Way You Lie.
As I listened, my heart pumped faster and my mind raced; what was this music and what was it doing to me?
I was feeling happy and secure in an instant of hearing it.
I remember that feeling because I still have it whenever I listen to rap music.
I eventually saved up enough coin to buy a music software program that let me produce my own music.
I started watching tutorials on YouTube to learn how to make my own beats.
It took a long time, but eventually I was making my own music and I was feeling great!
I started making new friends and I could start being myself around them.
I’m hoping to join the Police Force when I leave school and work towards being a detective.
I want to help people who might be in trouble, while making cool music beats on the side.
I’m finding out that everyone has personal struggles, but it’s important that not to let it define who you are as a person.
I was once timid, shy and afraid — and sometimes I still am — but finding something that can help you get through those hurdles will get you through.
For me — it was rap music!
Also check the related topics:
Music and our mental health Starting in a new placeSpeaking to someone about your problems can be the first steps to a solution.
